Transcript

Besides being NBA champions, what do Alonzo Mourning and Sean Elliott share in common?

Hi, I’m Dr. Griffin Rodgers bringing you Healthy Moments from the NIH. I'm the Director of the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases.

During their basketball careers, both Alonzo Mourning and Sean Elliott battled kidney disease and returned to the game after getting transplants. Although they share a unique story, there's nothing unique about kidney disease in our African American community.

We are disproportionately affected by kidney failure, and for some patients, kidney transplantation may be the best treatment option that allows them to live much like they did before their kidneys failed.

But here's the problem: the number of organs donated by our community is low, which means it's hard to match kidney donors and recipients.

To learn more about kidney donation visit OrganDonor.gov and follow us on Twitter @NIDDKgov. This is Dr. Griffin Rodgers with the NIH.